If you take medications either on a prescription or over-the-counter, it is essential to know how to identify them. Doing this can keep you protected from counterfeit pills and drug interactions which could have detrimental effects on your health.
Medications can vary according to their manufacturer, dosage form, strength and/or inactive ingredients. Whether you are taking a prescription, OTC or generic drug, there are easy methods of identification online.
Color
Color and shape of medications play a significant role in aiding patients and pharmacy staff distinguish between different prescription drugs. Furthermore, these identifiers help reduce drug-related adverse events.
Researchers have revealed that the color of a pill plays an integral role in how patients perceive it, even before they take their medication. This perception plays an integral role in patients’ willingness to take their medication on schedule.
Color-coding medication labels is an invaluable aid for elderly individuals to help them remember to take their medicines as prescribed. Furthermore, emergency healthcare workers may find color-coded labels useful when helping seniors administer their medications.
Shape
The shape of a medication is crucial since it determines how quickly it enters your bloodstream. Furthermore, manufacturers can customize each tablet’s design for each patient to maximize effectiveness and minimize side effects.
Researchers suggest that 3D printing could one day allow pills to be personalized for each individual. That would mean doctors inputting the medications a patient requires, along with their dosage and frequency of take-up.
Computer programs could create a computerized template with multiple pronged components that a pill maker could customize for each patient. This would be an incredible step forward in the industry and would allow doctors to increase their efficiency by designing personalized medications tailored specifically for each person.
Form
Medications are a class of drugs prescribed to treat or prevent diseases. These medicines come in various dosage forms such as tablets, capsules, liquids, creams, ointments and injections.
Oral medications contain the active pharmaceutical ingredient in a solid form (pill or tablet). These substances are quickly absorbed into your bloodstream and begin working quickly.
All approved medications have a distinctive appearance to aid identification. Furthermore, they carry the National Drug Code (NDC), consisting of three parts: a labeler code, product code and package code.
NDC Code
National Drug Codes, commonly referred to as NDCs or National Drug Numbers, are a series of numbers used for medication identification. They accurately display a medication’s manufacturer, name, dosage form, strength, package size and quantity.
The NDC (National Drug Code) is a product identifier designed to detect and prevent billing errors, streamline reimbursement processes, and enhance patient safety. As an FDA-standardized number, this number gives stakeholders such as clinics, health practitioners, insurers, pharmacies complete transparency on drugs administered.
Each NDC consists of three segments: a labeler code, product code and package code. The labeler code is assigned by FDA; the product code by the firm that manufactures or repackages the drug; and finally, distribution firms assign package codes for drugs to ensure consistency throughout distribution channels.
